Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz drew sharp backlash after he praised a federal fraud prosecutor that he suggested should be fired just one week earlier. The reversal followed news that U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson resigned amid reported disagreements with the Department of Justice under President Trump.
Walz reacted Tuesday on X after reports that Thompson and other prosecutors stepped down. “Joe is a principled public servant who spent more than a decade achieving justice for Minnesotans,” Walz wrote. “This is a huge loss for our state.” Walz then claimed the departures showed President Trump was “pushing nonpartisan career professionals out of the justice department.”
The comments contrasted with Walz’s remarks the prior week, when he criticized Thompson during a press conference after the prosecutor warned Minnesota fraud could reach $9 billion. “You saw a U.S. attorney stand up, which has been released, would have been let go by any other administration,” Walz said. “That’s defamation, and that’s coming from the U.S. attorney.”
The Walz flip-flop triggered immediate responses from conservative critics. Bill Glahn of the Center of the American Experiment wrote, “Last week you said in a press conference that Joe Thompson should be fired. Don’t pretend you didn’t.” Townhall columnist Dustin Grage added, “Here’s Tim Walz calling for Joe Thompson to be fired… last week.”
Republican lawmakers echoed the criticism. “Just last week, Walz suggested Thompson be fired for finding fraud,” said state Rep. Walter Hudson. Thompson played a central role in uncovering the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud case, which resulted in dozens of indictments. Walz later declined to seek a third term as the investigation expanded.
